Thiolated DAB dendrimer/ZnSe nanoparticles for C-reactive protein recognition in human serum

► Fluorescence chemical sensor for the C-RP recognition in thiol DAB-dendrimer generation 5. ► Capped by fluorescent ZnSe quantum dots assembly to O-phosphorylethanolamine. ► The fluorescence of S-DAB-ZnSe-PEA QDs was explained due to the quenching of the C-RP. ► The precision of the method obtained (as RSD) for 4 mg L−1 (n=3) was 3.76%. ► Application to human serum.